Music Leadership and Artistic Direction, Master's Degree
Lead artistic projects. Shape creative futures. Develop your professional practice through leadership, innovation and research.
Studies
Music Leadership and Artistic Direction is an international master’s degree designed for experienced music and creative industry professionals who want to expand their expertise in artistic leadership, project development and practice-based research. The programme combines artistic practice, leadership, project management and research-based development. During the studies, students design, develop, implement and evaluate a substantial creative project that forms the foundation for a 30 ECTS Master’s thesis.
Whether your professional profile is that of a musician, composer, producer, artistic director, conductor, music educator, creative entrepreneur or cultural leader, the programme provides tools for leading artistic processes, developing new practices and creating meaningful impact through music and the arts.
What You Will Learn
You will develop advanced competencies in artistic leadership, creative project development and research-informed professional practice.
Key areas of study include:
- Artistic leadership and creative process management
- Practice-based and development-oriented research
- Creative project design and implementation
- Multidisciplinary artistic collaboration
- Reflection, evaluation and professional development
- Documentation, analysis and Master’s thesis development
Through coursework, workshops and project-based learning, you will build a personal artistic development project that serves as the foundation for your Master’s thesis.
The programme consists of the following study modules:
- Study Planning and Digital Competence
- Development-Based Research and Master’s Thesis Development
- Creative Practice, Leadership and Project Development
- Creative Practice Lab
- Creative Practice Implementation
- Creative Practice Reflection and Thesis Seminar
- Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS)
Artistic Leadership in Practice
Leadership in the programme is understood as the ability to initiate, facilitate and guide creative processes.
Students explore leadership through artistic practice, collaboration and project work. Leadership may involve directing ensembles, leading artistic productions, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, developing new creative concepts or facilitating collaborative working processes.
The programme encourages students to develop their own leadership identity and to critically examine leadership within contemporary artistic and cultural contexts.
Creative and Project-Based Learning
The studies are strongly practice-oriented.
Students develop an individual artistic or creative project throughout the programme. The project may take many forms, including:
- Concert productions
- Artistic performances
- Music productions
- Compositions and creative works
- Community and participatory arts projects
- Interdisciplinary productions
- Cultural and creative industry development projects
The project functions as both a professional development process and a source of data and reflection for the Master’s thesis.
Practice-Based Research
The programme applies practice-based and development-oriented research approaches commonly used in creative fields.
Students learn to:
- Identify development needs within their professional practice
- Formulate research and development questions
- Collect and document project-based material
- Apply reflective and analytical methods
- Connect professional practice with existing research and theory
- Produce a Master’s thesis grounded in authentic professional development
The aim is to strengthen students’ ability to generate new knowledge through artistic and professional practice.
Why Study in Finland?
Finland is internationally recognised for its high-quality education system, innovative learning culture and vibrant creative sector.
Studying at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences offers:
- An international learning environment
- Strong connections to working life and professional networks
- A student-centred learning culture
- Opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration
- Access to Helsinki’s dynamic music and cultural ecosystem
Career Opportunities
Graduates are prepared for advanced professional and leadership roles across music, arts and creative industries.
Possible career paths include:
- Artistic Director
- Music Director
- Creative Producer
- Project Manager
- Ensemble Leader
- Conductor
- Composer and Creative Artist
- Music Entrepreneur
- Cultural Manager
- Development Specialist in Arts and Culture
- Higher Education and Professional Training Specialist
The programme also provides a strong foundation for research-informed development work within creative organisations and institutions.
Who Is This For?
The programme is intended for professionals who wish to deepen their artistic expertise while strengthening their leadership, development and research competencies.
Applicants typically have backgrounds in:
- Music Performance
- Composition
- Music Production
- Conducting
- Music Education
- Arts Management
- Cultural Production
- Creative Industries
To apply, you will need:
- A relevant bachelor’s degree or equivalent higher education qualification
- Relevant professional experience
- Motivation to develop your professional practice through artistic leadership and research-based development
Study Structure
The programme follows a developmental learning process:
Orientation and Academic Foundations
Students become familiar with the programme structure, digital learning environments and study planning practices.
Research and Thesis Development
Students identify a development challenge, formulate research questions and begin the thesis process.
Creative Practice, Leadership and Project Development
Students develop project concepts, artistic visions and leadership approaches while exploring multidisciplinary creative practices.
Creative Practice Lab
Students test, prototype and refine artistic ideas through experimentation, collaboration and reflection.
Creative Practice Implementation
Students realise and lead their artistic projects in professional contexts.
Creative Practice Reflection and Thesis Seminar
Students evaluate project outcomes, analyse collected material and prepare for thesis writing.
Master’s Thesis
Students complete a 30 ECTS Master’s thesis based on their development project and research process.
Bring Your Own Laptop
The programme follows a Bring Your Own Laptop (BYOL) principle. Students are expected to use their own laptops throughout the studies to support flexible working, digital collaboration and project-based learning.
Scholarships and tuition fees
Annual tuition fee 12 500 € for new non-EU/EEA degree students.
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Starting studies
Welcome to study for a degree at Metropolia!
Congratulations! You have been admitted to Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and we are delighted to have you as a new member of our vibrant community of more than 16 000 students!
You have made an excellent choice - Metropolia offers you unique multidisciplinary opportunities throughout your studies with its strong connections to working life and active role in innovations built around socially significant phenomena.
We are happy to have you with us and help you with any questions you might have. Welcome to Metropolia!
The below information applies to students who have been accepted to study for a full degree at Metropolia. Make sure to complete all the steps in order to secure your study place.
Confirming a place of study requires certain formalities to be completed by the deadline. More detailed instructions below:
Non-EU/EEA students need a student residence permit. You can begin the student residence permit application online at Enterfinland.fi. Remember that you must personally visit a Finnish embassy or consulate as part of this process. Start your residence permit process as soon as possible, carefully following the immigration authorities' instructions and regulations, so that you can receive your permit in good time before your studies begin! You can find detailed information and advice on the residence permit requirements and procedures on the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) website.
Note that participating online programmes does not entitle you receiving residence permit. See more about the topic in Finnish Immigration Service websites.
All Metropolia's students who do not have a Finnish personal identity code, have to apply for it before their arrival or register at the local registry office after their arrival to Finland to apply for one.
Students who have to apply for residence permit (i.e. non-EU/non-EEA citizens) before their arrival to Finland should ask to be registered in the Finnish Population Information System when they apply for their first residence permit. This way they will receive a Finnish personal identity code at the same time as they are issued with the permit. More information on this for residence permit applicants in Migri site
Other students have to apply for the personal identity code from the local registry office of the city where you are living in.
More information on Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV).
More information on registration to the Finnish Population Information System in DVV site
After you have received the personal identification code, remember to inform it to the Student Services with the official document. Acceptable documents are for example DVV:s document (Notification of registration), Finnish passport, Finnish identity card with a photo, issued by police, Finnish driver's license, residence permit or KELA card with a photo.
User account activation is possible from the start date of your study right. Activate your user account before the orientation days by following the instructions available on the IT Services website. To activate your account, you will need personal online banking credentials or a mobile certificate. Also check the instructions provided by your degree programme.
If you do not have Finnish online banking credentials or a mobile certificate, authenticate using the Candour ID application. After authentication, you will receive instructions on how to activate your user account. Read the instructions for authentication and receiving user accounts on the Information Management Services website.
Once you have activated your user account, enable multi-factor authentication for Microsoft 365 services. First enable SMS authentication, and then Microsoft Authenticator. If possible, also enable alternative authentication methods on your other mobile devices. This will help you avoid login issues if your primary phone is replaced or lost. Follow the instructions available on the IT Services website.
If you have any questions about user account activation or multi-factor authentication, please contact the Helpdesk. You will find the contact information on the IT Services website.
All foreign students (who are not EU citizens or citizens of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland) who come to Finland for the purposes of studying are required to have a health insurance, if the studies endure longer than three months.
More information on insurances in Student's Guide
Student financial aid is for Finnish citizens. Foreign citizens are entitled to student financial aid if they live in Finland on a permanent basis for the purpose other than studying and they have registered as permanent residents in the Finnish population register system.
More information on student financial aid in Student's Guide
- Find out where your campus is located
- If you have a smart phone you can download the free HSL mobile app to get access to the public transportation Journey Planner and tickets (e.g. for travelling from the Helsinki-Vantaa airport to your apartment or from your apartment to the campus).
- If you have a smart phone you can download the Tuudo mobile app for free to get your digital student ID and student discounts (ID and discounts are available from the first day of the studies onwards)
- Information on student life and well-being, costs and finance, study environment etc. in Student's Guide
New students need a laptop for their studies.
Minimum laptop requirements for new students:
- Windows 11 or Mac computer
- Intel i5/i7 processor (at least 8 gen), AMD Ryzen 5/7 or equivalent processor
- RAM 8 GB memory
- SSD hard disk min. 256 GB
The life cycle of the laptop should be at least 4 years. The estimated cost of a laptop meeting the recommended specifications is between €600 and €800 and upwards. If the student's studies are geared towards gaming or graphic design, for example, the laptop should have a more powerful graphics card and more SSD hard disk space.
The recommended operating system will depend on the degree programme and the area of specialisation. As a general rule, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X are safe choices for a laptop operating system. Students of XR Design, 3D Animation and Visualisation and Visual Communication Design will be informed in the first weeks of their studies about the purchase of their own computer and the features they need.
Tuudo is a mobile app with which you can use various Metropolia web services easily on your smart phone. With Tuudo you can get Kela student discounts immediately. The benefits are free for all Metropolia students.
In Tuudo you can check announcements, your schedule, study attainments, and cafeteria menus.
Get Tuudo on your phone from the app store for free and start using it!
During your studies, your support of well-being and health is Finnish Student Health Services (FSHS). The specialist in student health care offers you general, mental and oral health services and supports the well-being of study communities.
Our services can be used by students completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree at a university or a university of applied sciences who have registered as attending for the semester.
Master the facts! Familiarize yourself with our services and user instructions in Kela's site fshs.fi, and Kela's Health information resource on the address.
Start using Self! Self is the student’s own online service for health care issues at FSHS. In Self, you can manage appointment bookings, communicate via SelfChat and start a remote consultation. Log in to Self as a user immediately from the beginning of the semester and keep your contact details up to date for as long as you are a student. Read more about Self in Kela's site.
The health care fee for students in higher education will be paid to Kela on your initiative. Read more about health care fee in Kela's site.
If you have social security coverage in another EU/EEA country or in Switzerland or the United Kingdom, you do not have to pay the healthcare fee. However, you can to use the FSHS’s services.
Metropolia does not have housing services to offer. Thus, it is the student's responsibility to find an accommodation for the period of their studies. There is a lot of competition in affordable housing, so it is important to start searching for a room many months prior to arrival.
Already excited about starting your studies in Metropolia and meeting new people?
On Student Union Metka's site you will find welcome letters for each degree program.
Welcome letters are information packages prepared by your future tutors. They include, for example, important dates as well as information about studying, student benefits, or student life.
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- Employer profiles
Sign up and start exploring
Sign up to JobTeaser using your @metropolia.fi email address.
You can also download a Jobteaser application.
In the Student’s Guide you will find instructions for your studies, as well as important announcements and events for students.
How to start Music Leadership and Artistic Direction studies?
Welcome to study Music Leadership and Artistic Direction at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.
The programme begins with an orientation period introducing students to the curriculum, learning environment, study practices and professional community.
Participation in orientation is an essential part of starting the studies.
Orientation
During orientation, students will become familiar with:
- Curriculum and programme structure
- Progression of studies
- Learning environments and digital platforms
- Personal study planning
- Recognition of prior learning (RPL)
- Student support services
- Networking and community building
Students will also meet programme staff and fellow students.
Study Guidance and Planning
Studying at Master’s level requires goal-oriented planning and active engagement.
Students receive support from programme staff and teacher tutors throughout their studies. Individual study planning and professional development are integrated into the programme from the beginning.
Timetable
Detailed schedules and course-specific information will be provided before the beginning of studies.
Summer Assignment
Before the studies begin, students are encouraged to identify a potential development challenge, artistic project or professional area of interest that could serve as the basis for their Master’s thesis.
Students prepare a brief concept paper describing:
- A possible project idea
- Professional relevance
- Development needs or challenges
- Potential research perspective
- Initial thoughts about implementation
The purpose of the assignment is to support a smooth start to both the artistic project and the thesis process.
Contact Information
Jukka Väisänen
+358 40 3340351
Head of Degree Programme
jukka.vaisanen [at] metropolia.fi (jukka[dot]vaisanen[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
Susanna Mesiä
Senior Lecturer
susanna.mesia [at] metropolia.fi (susanna[dot]mesia[at]metropolia[dot]fi)